Tuesday 14 April 2015

More turntables than I can shake a stick at

Along with the Space Lab stuff, where I might fix several turntables or other pieces of gear in one day, I've had a few around the home front too.

This Pioneer PL-A35 for example, went from this:



to this.


It will soon be on the market.

I also tuned up a Pioneer PL-4 and it works great now.



And I also have the Sansui 2050C ready for market. I love the power light and the lid prop stick thing on this. Very 1960s or something.



This Sony PS-X40 is no slouch. It's got a great arm and nice features with automatic functions and servo controlled direct drive. Too bad about the Handsworth School name etched into the plinth. Just maybe I will modify that silverware cabinet to take this as the controls are all on top and the etching on the front will be invisible inside the cabinet.



I've worked on others but they are kind of ho-hum compared to the next one, which is currently the one I am using at home. Here's a beautiful Denon DP-3000 with an AudioCraft AC-300 tonearm. In the first pic you see it with the headshell and Grado cartridge I go it with but I am now using my Denon DL-103R moving coil on it in a Jeweltone headshell. It's a nice match.









Good grief!

So, I was given a bit of grief today (nicely) by a co-worker who has followed my blog a bit. "When are you going to post something new?" Yes I've been bad...

I have been busy though. I've actually not worked on as many projects for myself as I have for Space Lab. I have a shop space there and work on vintage gear for the store and some of my own stuff too. One day I will show some pictures of the workshop, but probably not until we get it cleaned up a bit as we have had some "issues", like a flood from a damaged sprinkler for example.

Right now I'll give a small taste of some of the things I've done in the last several months and some of the projects ahead. Here's one, a silverware chest turned into a stereo stand. It's still somewhat unfinished but fully functional as is.

The "before" pic.




The "after" pics










And the "in between" pics.





I had to modify the drawer so the wiring could drop behind it through the slot I cut in the new plywood bottom. The B&O turntable works nicely because it is such a low profile but I might lower the shelf so I can use something deeper, though will require another re-work to the drawer. I'm also thinking I could add a holder to the lid for the "now playing" selection, and a bit of trim and finishing work.

I think it looks pretty cool. But we don't have anyplace for the fancy silverware now!